BAGHDAD, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday he would reshuffle his cabinet to replace ministers appointed on the basis of political affiliations with technocrats.

"I call for a radical cabinet reshuffle to include professional technocrats and academic figures and I call on the esteemed parliament and all political blocs to cooperate with us in this serious stage," Abadi said in a televised speech which focused mainly on economic challenges facing Iraq.